FijiFirst General Secretary and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum has called the National Federation Party’s Manifesto as a last attempt before NFP’s extinction from Fijian politics.
In a statement published on the party’s official Facebook page, Sayed‑Khaiyum said the NFP’s Manifesto will raise the national debt by over 2 billion dollars each year and will put Fiji into a deep crisis within the first 100 days and cripple the Fijian economy.
Sayed‑Khaiyum also says crisis is all they see in the NFP Manifesto adding that all Fijians in particular the low income families will suffer.
He says too much spending on consumption will drain international reserves and force devaluation and unchecked devaluation will lead to increased costs of food items, goods and services.
Speaking at the Fiji First Family Fun Day in Savusavu, Sayed‑Khaiyum also criticised the NFP’s plan to reduce duty on beer.
He says initially at least 20,000 jobs will be lost, with more to follow.
Sayed‑Khaiyum also says young graduates will hardly have any chance of jobs in the civil service when the retirement age is increased to 60.
Sayed‑Khaiyum says NFP has not provided a lot of answers but the consequences are clear.
He has asked who will foot the $2 billion bill and will NFP increase corporate tax rates or lower the income tax threshold.
Sayed‑Khaiyum has also asked where NFP is going to get the unreasonably high funding from.
He also questions whether NFP will stop making roads and do upgrades and whether they will stop rural electrification.
Sayed‑Khaiyum adds such level of funding requirements will raise interest rates by at least 5 percent and people will lose their house, car and farmland.
